This week, we bring you a mixture of nine unique programs, workshops, competitions, and online courses across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Levant regions. Many of the opportunities offer generous monetary prizes and grants. Spanning from green innovation to tech, here’s six startup opportunities you need to see.
By SWB Team
1. GeeXelerator – Palestine
GeeXerlerator is an online incubation and accelerator program started by Gaza Sky Geeks in Palestine. During the program, you will get: practical training to prepare your project, access to a vast network of mentors, follow up and guidance from the GSG team on a weekly and continuous basis, networking with Arab and business accelerators and investors. The winners could receive grants over $30,000. Criteria include a tech-based idea, a team of 2-5 people; one should be a technical co-founder. At least one member has to be a resident of either Gaza, West Bank, or Jerusalem. At least one co-founder have to have two years of work experience.
The application deadline is February 28, 2021.
2. Female Founders Fellowship – Iraq
The Female Founders Fellowship is a program specifically designed to give women the support they need to grow their businesses. Starting on March 11, this program will provide training, peer support, consulting, advisory services, and more to each Fellow. The exclusive program is only open to 10 women in total across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Criteria include:
- You must be a growth stage entrepreneur.
- The business must provide a solution to a problem in your community.
- Business is either a physical store, online, or social media business.
- You must be able to read, write, and communicate in English.
The application deadline is March 1, 11:59 pm.
3. Luminous ShamalStart – Jordan
Luminus ShamalStart caters to entrepreneurs with promising ideas in manufacturing and related services through its Business Accelerator, enabling them to enter and navigate the business world confidently. With access to FabLab Irbid – a state-of-the-art manufacturing space – the first of its kind in Jordan and one of the 20 largest digital fabrication laboratories in the world, FabLab Irbid grants innovators and creators access to production areas, workspaces, advanced and easy-to-use equipment, and tools, as well as a resident team of experts and specialists.
Apply here.
4. IGIT – Jordan
IGIT is one of the leading Training and Consultancy Companies in the Middle East. They are a trusted advisor for many leading businesses, governments, and institutions. In cooperation with Spark – Jordan, the International Training Group invites you to the opportunity to participate in free mentoring and coaching sessions. To help you find solutions and proposals for your business challenges and build a development plan for the next stage. Free counseling sessions for small and medium companies and home projects for Jordanian and Syrian nationalities are also included. The session will help you evaluate the company’s challenges and opportunities, design and implement orientation sessions, and build its growth development plan. Criteria include: the company cannot be less than a year old from the date of incorporation, registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and can’t have less than two employees.
Applications for small and medium businesses, as well as home projects, are available.
5. INHAD National Self Employment Program – Jordan
The program provides technical support to young people by training them, refining their skills, and developing them to transform their ideas into successful projects that reduce unemployment. It aims to find solutions to training and qualification, project management, economic feasibility study, concessional financing, networking, marketing, stability, and sustainability. The INHAD program is run by the Business Development Center, in partnership with the Central Bank of Jordan, the Jordanian Banks Association, and the Productivity Enhancement Centers – Irada and UNICEF.
Register here.
6. InvesTech – North Africa and the Levant region
The U.S. Commercial Service of the American Embassy in Amman is hosting a customized workshop, “InvesTech 2021,” targeting start-up and tech companies on March 22-24. Don’t miss out on the opportunity. Registration is now open until February 28. Participant categories include Startup/Tech Company, Accelerator/Incubator, Government Representative, and Speakers.
7. Start and Grow Online with GoDaddy – MENA region
The partnership between GoDaddy and Startups Without Borders has created a free online course, “Start and Grow Online with GoDaddy.” This course teaches entrepreneurs how to take their business online in an intensive four-hour educational workshop. The content created and provided by GoDaddy is available in both Arabic and English. Topics will include defining an online presence, hands-on planning, and building and securing a website. Participants will receive mentorship sessions, a certificate of completion at the end of the workshop, and a free trial for 30 days on the Arabic Website Builder tool.
Applicants must be a small business owner, entrepreneur, or sole trader.
8. Everybody Can – Egypt
The competition accepts ideas/startups of persons with disabilities & entrepreneurs who have ideas/startups that serve people with disabilities. There will be the chance of winning financial prices up to 100,000 EGP in addition to training programs to develop ideas/startups.
Applications are available in Arabic and English.
9. GIMED Egypt Green Innovation Competitions – Egypt
GIMED supports entrepreneurs who have eco-friendly innovative ideas, products, or services to access finance, compete in the market and grow. The four most innovative ideas and startups will be recognized as a Green Innovation Pioneer and will benefit from a 7500 Euro grant.
The application deadline has been extended to February 28. Applicants can apply as either an idea or startup.
